Aoteroa Rugby Pod: Who would line-up for the All Blacks in a hybrid Kangaroos clash?
The prospect of a hybrid union-league clash between the All Blacks and Kangaroos have dominated headlines over the past week as reports indicate the possibility of the match coming to fruition by the end of the year.
How such a fixture would be ruled, or whether the event would go ahead at all, remains to be seen, but that hasn’t stopped Super Rugby Aotearoa stars Bryn Hall and James Parsons from dreaming up a star-studded All Blacks side to take on the NRL’s best.
Speaking to Ross Karl on the debut episode of RugbyPass’ Aotearoa Rugby Pod, Blues hooker Parsons said the cross-code encounter would hold plenty of intrigue, especially if lineouts and scrums were part of the hybrid rules.
“I just think, if leaguies had to do scrums and lineouts, it would just be tough work,” the two-test All Blacks rake said.
“We spend a lot of time on those various aspects or set pieces of the game, and then to just pull up and try and do it, even if they had a month’s preparation, it would be a bit of a challenge and probably a little bit unfair.
“But then you’ve got to look on the other side in terms of the athletes leaguies have.
“Props and tight five members having to back up 10 [metres] all the time, for that league aspect, would be a challenge as well in terms of the fitness and that ability.
“You’ve already seen the adjustments in the league rules in the fatigue that’s happening in those big boys through the middle, so it could be fair.”
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Crusaders halfback Hall, who said he dabbled in league as a youngster, doubled down on Parsons’ sentiments before revealing he had discussed a possible 13-man All Blacks starting line-up with his flatmate and franchise teammate Will Jordan.
“We had Beaudy Barrett and Richie [Mo’unga] in the halves and we had TJ [Perenara] at No. 9 [a hooker in rugby league],” he said.
“We had Rieko [Ioane] in the centre, [as well as Ngani] Laumape, and then on the wings, we couldn’t really decide if we wanted a big ball carrier, like a Ken Maumalo or a [David] Fusitu’a kind of set-up.”
Parsons was adamant at least one physically dominant wing would be required in a rugby league starting line-up, pointing to his teammate and breakout Blues star Caleb Clarke as a good option to fill that role.
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However, the 33-year-old was unsure who in New Zealand rugby would be suitable to fill the fullback position to counter reigning Dally M Medallist and Sydney Roosters star James Tedesco.
“Teddy Tedesco is pretty special, it’s [fullback] quite a key position. Maybe we just steal [Warriors captain] Roger [Tuivasa-Sheck] and say, ‘Roger, jump in for the rugby side’,” Parsons laughed.
Both Karl and Hall offered alternatives of their own, with the former proposing that Hurricanes utility back Jordie Barrett slot into the No. 1 jersey, while the latter thought Chiefs playmaker Damian McKenzie’s attacking attributes couldn’t be overlooked.
“Damian would be awesome. I think that’s who we named, his electricity, his distribution skills and his slipperiness. It’d be a good team,” Hall said.
Karl and Parsons both agreed that Blues flyer and one-test Kiwis wing Matt Duffie could be a reliable option given his experience in the NRL with the Melbourne Storm.
Up front, Parsons believed veteran Hurricanes hooker Dane Coles may be well-suited to the hooker role in rugby league, although Hall said he could play a similar role former Cronulla Sharks captain Paul Gallen in the No. 13 jersey.
The duo came to a consensus that Blues skipper Patrick Tuipulotu, who is enjoying career-best form this season, would be a powerhouse in the forward pack.
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Karl, meanwhile, stated that young Crusaders wing Leicester Fainga’anuku could pack a punch at No. 13.
“Leicester Fainga’anuku, I reckon you could maybe fit in at lock. A big dude like that could be really interesting through the middle of the field,” he said.
There’s no doubting the All Blacks could field a competitive team in the highly-discussed clash, but Parsons was philosophical about whether the event would go ahead at all.
“I think there’s a lot of water to go under the bridge. There’s a lot to work out and, I suppose, it’ll come down to the commercial dollar and whether it’s worth doing,” he said.
“If everyone’s keen to buy in fully and commit to the product, then I think there’s room for it, especially after the end of this year, anything’s possible.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Je suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
25 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
25 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
25 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
25 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
11 Go to comments